New home and new tools for men’s Shed

Tony Bravington, Adrian Hulse and Dave Saunders watch George Mackenzie put the finishing touches to one of the new workbenches for the Winslow Men in Sheds group

Published:08:00Sunday 20 December 2015

Share this article

Bucks Freemasons have donated £1,600 to the new Men in Sheds venture for Winslow and surrounding villages.

Growing from an original idea in Australia, and initially sponsored by Age UK, Men in Sheds provides a meeting place for men to use their skills on retirement, and in many cases learn new ones.

George Mackenzie at work in the Winslow Shed

There are several other Men in Sheds groups already set up in Bucks, including Buckingham, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury.

Until recently, the Winslow group lacked a proper venue, but it has now been given the use of temporary premises in Station Road, opposite Chapman Autos and next to the car wash. The group has also received start-up support from local Lions and Rotary clubs.

Members are now preparing facilities, including woodworking equipment, but lacked anything other than basic tools scrounged from within the group.

The Bucks Masonic Centenary Fund (BMCF) has now given them funding for a range of new tools including a table saw, sander and bench drill.

The group also has space for a coffee bar, pool table, dartboard and light gym equipment.

Chairman Dave Saunders, said: “We are so pleased that Bucks Freemasons have stepped in to help us, as it means we can now really get the Winslow Shed under way.”

Deputy head of Freemasonry in Bucks, Robert Wharton, said: “This is just one of the many and varied ways in which Freemasonry’s core values of friendship, integrity and charity are used to help all parts of the community in the Bucks area”.

The Winslow Shed is open from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. See www.meninshedswinslow.org.uk